Dricus Du Plessis steps into the octagon against Khamzat Chimaev this Saturday, August 16, as the two fighters headline UFC 319 at United Center. The showdown marks one of the most anticipated matchups of the summer fight schedule.
"This five-round main event has all the makings of a classic," UFC President Dana White stated during the event announcement. "Both fighters have completed their preparations and are ready to go."
The main card kicks off at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will be available exclusively on ESPN+ PPV. For those looking to catch the preliminary fights, they'll begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and Disney+, with a simulcast in both English and Spanish on ESPN+. Early birds can tune in at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT for the early prelims on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.
While the main event features the standard championship format of five rounds, all other bouts on the card will follow the traditional three-round format.
Interestingly, both fighters recently completed their official weigh-ins, though the results haven't been publicly detailed yet. The face-off between Du Plessis and Chimaev at the weigh-in ceremony already showcased the tension building between these two competitors.
Can Du Plessis handle Chimaev's aggressive style over five rounds? Or will Chimaev prove too much for the South African fighter? Saturday night will finally give us those answers.
